Revised timeshare directive ‘fails to protect against fraudsters’
Rogue holiday clubs that rip off unsuspecting consumers will still be allowed to flourish under a new European directive, it has been claimed.
The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe is deeply critical of proposed revisions to the European Timeshare Directive being issued today (Thursday).
The OTE claims the directive has been “patched up” by the European Commission in an attempt to regulate long term holiday products – discount travel membership clubs – despite these travel services being “fundamentally different” to timeshare.
The organisation fears that the revised directive will place more onerous demands on timeshare companies while at the same time failing to increase consumer protection.
Instead it will make it more difficult and costly for companies to do business and will further set back genuine timeshare firms “whilst making it easier for fraudsters to operate”.
OTE secretary general Peter van der Mark said: “These long term holiday products are ticking timebombs, but by shoehorning these holiday products into legislation created for asset based timeshare, the Commission has chosen a short cut that will leave millions of European holidaymakers at risk.
“The Commission has missed an opportunity to introduce better regulation with tangible consumer benefits.
“The Commission should ensure that legislation is enforced now in order to stop the aggressive sales methods used by unscrupulous operators of long term holiday products rather than unduly targeting legitimate timeshare companies.”
There are 1.45 million timeshare owners in the EU and hundreds of legitimate timeshare companies, according to the OTE.
But discount travel membership clubs are different in that they charge a high membership fee for what may amount to little more than a booking service. They promise a lifetime of discounted luxury holidays but do not own or control the accommodation offered and often overstate their access to accommodation.
There is also concern that the clubs will be unable to fulfil their contractual obligations over the term of the contract, which can run for many years, the OTE warned.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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